Matt Mills, Jobi McAnuff and Noel Hunt all miss out due to ankle injuries.

Shane Long has pulled out of the Republic of Ireland squad with a hip injury while a groin strain has forced Simon Church to withdraw from the Wales squad. But Adam Federici, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Alex McCarthy, Hal Robson-Kanu and Jake Taylor are away on international duty.

“We will have different personnel playing at Plainmoor,” said McDermott. “But we feel we have a team that can go and win.

“Torquay have a great run going themselves and are playing a certain way. They haven’t conceded a goal in eight games and you have to give them a lot of credit.

“We will give them the utmost respect and know it will be very difficult.”

Royals’ boss is no stranger to the south west, having played some of his career at the Gulls’ fierce rivals Exeter City.

He added: “We played many derbies against Torquay and I think I scored against them for Cardiff and Exeter.